Downtown Hartford District Gets Artistic Upgrade

Two years after dramatically enhancing the multi-block section of Pearl Street from Trumbull Street to Bushnell Park, TheaterWorks' Founder and Executive Director, Steve Campo, today announced an initiative to enhance the remaining portion of Pearl Street from Trumbull Street to Main Street. The focus of the project will be a major installation of a design by local artist, Andria Alex, encompassing the exteriors of 101 and 111 Pearl Street, two vacant and underutilized properties in the downtown district. After months of reviewing concepts and preparation, the art installation will begin on Tuesday, July 26, 2011 and is expected to be complete within 10 days.

Steve Campo, TheaterWorks' Founder and Executive Director, stated: "Two years ago, TheaterWorks heavily invested its own resources to visually transform Pearl Street from the corner of Trumbull Street west to Bushnell Park. Since then I've hoped to find the right aesthetic bridge to expand our efforts all the way to Main Street. It's a wonderful irony that the key to achieving this is our own scenic artist, Andria Alex. Now, with the vigorous encouragement of Mayor Pedro Segarra, TheaterWorks has been able to leverage support to make this undertaking a reality."

Hartford Mayor Pedro Segarra praised TheaterWorks' initiative saying, "When Steve brought this idea to us it was impossible not to be excited. Andria Alex's artistic style seemed a perfect way to extend TheaterWorks' enhancements to the Pearl Street neighborhood. This is a short-term improvement to the long-term strategic plan for redevelopment of this block with our partners at the State. I was happy that my administration was able to be supportive of this project since it directly aligns with iQuilt's walkability vision and our efforts to upgrade blighted properties as part of our One City, One Plan for conservation and development."

TheaterWorks' expanded Pearl Street Enhancement Project began with a comprehensive site assessment of the 101 and 111 Pearl Street properties. Subsequently, TheaterWorks' Executive Director, Steve Campo, met with representatives of the City of Hartford to present a conceptual proposal.

Once Hartford Mayor Pedro Segarra and Chief Operating Officer, David Panagore gave the project their approval, a logistics team was assembled, led by Wayne Benjamin, Director of Development for the City of Hartford, and Mike Lenaghan, TheaterWorks' Production Manager.

This project was a collaborative effort which includEd Hartford BID (Business Improvement District) - an organization that works side-by-side with the City of Hartford as well as the more than 100 property owners to achieve a cleaner, safer and more attractive business district; Pearl Street Associates, LLC; City of Hartford; Lanny Nagler, a notEd Hartford photographer; ARTfx, a specialty signage company that melds aesthetics with technically advanced exterior design and installation; as well as attorney, Michael G. Albano, a member of the Hartford law firm of MacDermid, Reynolds & Glissman.

Under Mike Lenaghan's guidance, Andria Alex's art was assembled from private collections by TheaterWorks' production staff and transported to Lanny Nagler's Arbor Street studios. Each piece was photographed and subsequently converted into high-resolution digital files which were conveyed to ARTfx. Andria then used these images to create a design which was printed onto a special, weather-proof vinyl for installation to the exteriors of 101 and 111 Pearl Street. In the meantime, a team from Hartford BID power-washed and prepped the building's exteriors to accept the printed artwork.

In comments about the multi-faceted project, Kate Bolduc, Chief Executive Officer of the Greater Hartford Arts Council added: "Under Steve Campo's leadership, TheaterWorks is more than just a professional theater company. Steve and his team have worked consistently to elevate people's overall experience of Downtown Hartford and we can all be thankful for that."

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